Nigeria: ACN Dissociates Self From Threats On Tribunal Members

THE Benue State Chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has dissociated itself from the alleged threats on the lives of members of the Benue State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, chaired by Justice Munir Ladan.

This came on the heels of statements credited to the State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Dr. Agbo Emmanuel, accusing the ACN of posing security threats to the Tribunal via their "unruly conduct."

The Tribunal on Monday, citing threats on the lives of its members, suspended its sittings indefinitely, and returned to Abuja to report to the President of the Court of Appeal.

Although Justice Ladan did not mention names, The Moment investigations reveal that this is the second time in less than two months that the Tribunal members would allege intimidation and threats to life.

It would be recalled that barely three weeks after the Tribunal began sitting in Makurdi, its first Chairman, Justice Daisy Okocha, withdrew from the case, on grounds of threats to life, and returned to Abuja.

But reacting to the development, the State Chairman of the ACN, Comrade Abba Yaro, dissociated the party from the alleged threats, saying rather that they were part of the ploy of the PDP and Governor Gabriel Suswam to "delay proceedings and consequently subvert the cause of justice."

Yaro, in a statement, said it has "utmost confidence in the ability of the judiciary to act without fear or favour, and cannot, therefore, be part of any threat and intimidation that would obstruct the course of justice."

"While the antics and tactics of Gov. Suswam aimed at distracting the tribunal is going on, the time within which the Tribunal must determine our petition has not stood still.

"We urge the Federal Government to provide enough security for the Tribunal to dispose of its cases as the governor and the PDP are not above the law and the Tribunal is part of a constitutional electoral process."

It called on all ACN supporters to remain calm as it reiterated its belief in the rule of law and the judicial process.

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